Quality Improvement in a Hospital Setting: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections at an Acute Care Hospital in South Texas

Background: Central line-associated infections (CLABSI) are life-threatening nosocomial infections that are associated with significant increase in healthcare expenditure, prolonged stays, and risk of mortality. Objective: To identify outcome trends and risk factors that contribute to incidence of CLABSI at an 866-bed acute care hospital in South Texas. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 38 patients who met the National Healthcare Safety Network criteria for CLABSI during the period of January 2021 to March 2022 Results: There was a total of thirty-two CLABSIs in 2021. Hospital-wide CLABSI rate was 1.76 hospital-wide per 1,000-line days. Half of cases were COVID-19 positive with 59% of the infections occurring between August and October. Overall mortality rate for CLABSI in 2021 was 56%. COVID-19 positive patients with CLABSI had a mortality rate of 87.5% vs 25% in COVID-19 negative patients. From January to March 2022, there was six CLABSIs. Hospital-wide CLABSI incidence rate was 1.09 per 1,000-line days. Half were COVID-19 positive. Overall mortality rate for CLABSI in 2022 is 50%. COVID-19 positive patients with CLABSI had a mortality rate of 66.7% vs 33.3% in COVID-19 negative patients. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on incidence of CLABSI this South Texas Hospital. The peak of CLABSI incidence correlates with the trends of COVID cases within the U.S